In Which I Finally Leave My Yard

 

I took this picture to send to Jessie this morning and accompanied it with the message, "We miss you!" 
And we did. We all talked about her being off to North Carolina and how cool it is that her family gets to do that. 
Well, not all of us. There were four new members in class and of course they don't know Jessie. There was another mother-daughter pair who had taken pottery together before at Lemoyne, the place where August went to his art camp. 
Gail led them all through the process of building a mug, which means making the mug not on the wheel, but by cutting out flattened clay and forming the mug that way. Those people made some really cool mugs. I was impressed. And I realized that I have not made one mug in all the time I've been going to that class. I may have set a record for non-mug-making-in-pottery-class. 

But Lizzie was there and Felicia, another one of our compadres in pottery and also Tammy, who may be on her third session now. I think. 
It was good to see everyone and catch up a little. Lizzie has been to NYC since I last saw her, with the Gentleman Caller. She took him to his first opera- La Traviata. He only fell asleep once. He took her to a Broadway musical and she says she slept through a lot of it. Although GC was raised in New York City, he had never done some of the more touristy things such as going to Ellis Island or the Cloisters but Lizzie remedied that situation. I think they had a fantastic time. He stopped by at the end of class and as always, got a very warm welcome from us. We definitely approve of GC. 

My hibiscus bowl had finally been fired. Hurray! However, one of the little round legs of it had fallen off in the kiln and that was sort of a big disappointment. No need to fret, however. I'll just make another one and get that fired and then superglue it on when the whole thing is done. I was so excited to start working on the glaze-painting of that but before I did, I applied underglaze and then a glossy clear coat to the bottom of the leaf platter and now it will go into the kiln and we shall see what those colors look like. 
After I did that, I started on the hibiscus and it took me about an hour and a half to do this.

Do not ask me why. 
First off, I had to try and create a color for the inner central area there. The throat? And so I did a mixing of some of the colors I have that I ordered. 
Because I knew I would not remember what I'd used, I took this picture.

So what we have there is a mixture of Java Bean, Candy Apple Red, Wine About It, and Grapel. What I think I am going for is a sort of deep, deep burgandy with almost a hint of brown in it. Something like this. 

That's a picture I took of a hibiscus in Roseland. 
Now. Whether my combination of colors will be anything at all close to that is yet to be seen. And because of the slowness of the way I work, it ain't gonna be seen for awhile. 
Oh well. What's the rush? 
The point is, I love doing this. I brought it home so I can play with it here if I get the chance which means making the time and that is entirely under my control. 
I really have no idea what I'm doing and that's what I love about it. I just sort of let my hands take over and so far, I haven't hated anything I've done and although that's a low bar, it's okay. 

I also found my poor little fishy that I made in the last thirty minutes of a class, planning on making a nice little school of them to hang on the wall. 

It's rough. It needs sanding. But it's another happy fish. 
Now. The funny part is, I finally found it on one of the kids' classes shelves. I am not insulted in the least. In fact, I am pleased. Especially after seeing these hung in the hallway at the art center. I pass them on my way to the bathroom and I just had to take some pictures. Of the pictures.

I noticed this one first because it was seriously crooked.  I reached to straighten it and then realized, it was hung that way on purpose. Such brilliance! 
Here are some more.

I have felt all these ways. I recognize myself in each and every one of them and what human being could not? 

If I could do art like that, I would be so thrilled. 
So, to have found my little fish on the kids's shelf was not an insult to me in the least. It was a compliment. I have made something that evokes childishness. 

After class I took myself to lunch to the Cuban restaurant where I sat outside. My server was Jessi, whom I have mentioned before. I have developed a real affection for her. She does not try to be all cozy-friendly, she does not suck up. She is professional in all ways and radiates a lovely vibe. As I have said before, I do not mind eating in a restaurant by myself in the least. I wonder why. That doesn't really make sense in the light of how I feel about being in public. 

And then, because I realized I had not left Lloyd since last Friday, I stopped by Oak Tree Treasures where I spent way too much time and absolutely no money. I didn't find a darn thing I wanted or needed. 
By then, I was indeed getting anxious because when I've been away from home for too long, that's what I do. I have this inner voice telling me that I am going to be late, hurry up! Get home! 
And late for what? I ask that voice and it never has an answer and yet it doesn't stop nagging me. But I had to go to Publix and I did grow ever more anxious but eventually I made it home and here I am. 

I have not made even one brief tour of the garden and that feels wrong. I have certainly not skipped a day being in the garden since I got home from Roseland. It's okay. I know it's okay. 

Mr. Moon is at the cabin for one more night. He'll be home tomorrow as he has a dermatologist appointment Friday morning.

Oh! Look what I found at Publix. 

A new canning funnel! Thank you, Publix. And now it's guaranteed that my old one will show up. 

I am truly ready to rock. Come on, green beans! Let's dance. 

Love...Ms. Moon